Carpet binding machine



4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed 001;. 7, 1963 A T TOI'PN E Y8.

G 6 R B q mN WE V mm N A H T A N 1 ll ml IH Dec. 7, 1965 N. GREENBERG 3,221,685 I CARPET BINDING MACHINE Filed 001:. v, 1963 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 4 G; "1 n2 5 as I F 78 10 Illl w INVENTOR.

NATHAN GREENBERG A TTOR/VEYS.

Dec. 7, 1965 N. GREENBERG 3,221,685

CARPET BINDING MACHINE Filed Oct. '7, 1963 I80 mmmuumun 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 I48 I III 36 INVENTOR.

NATHAN GREENBERG BY ATTORNEYS.

United States Patent 3,221,685 CARPET BINDING MACHINE Nathan Greenberg, 5016 Bingham St., Philadelphia, Pa. Filed Oct. 7, 1963, Ser. No. 314,135 8 Claims. (Cl. 112-138) This invention relates to a carpet binding machine and more particularly to a novel and improved device of this general class.

Carpet binding machines of varying construction are widely used in order to sew a strip of binding to the raw edge of a carpet. As presently used, it is necessary to utilize a preparatory step followed by two separate sewing operations with two different types of sewing machines in order to sew a relatively wide binding to the raw edge of a carpet.

In the techniques heretofore used it was necessary as a preparatory step to bevel or cut away an edge of the carpet pile in order that the pile would not interfere with the sewing operation.

Thereafter, one edge of the wider binding strip was sewn to the top surface of the carpet (with the pile up). The binding was then folded upon itself and brought beneath the carpet backing and sewn thereto (with the pile down) in order to complete the binding operation.

In the present invention the bevelling or cutting step is entirely eliminated, a much narrower binding strip wide) is utilized instead of the binding strip (1%" wide) heretofore used and the two step operation is reduced to a single step (with the pile up) with a single machine of the present invention.

The carpet binding machine of the present invention, in its preferred form, comprises a modification of substantial portions of a zig-zag sewing machine manufactured by the Singer Sewing Machine Company and identified as Model No. 107W3.

The basic sewing machine is disclosed in Gray Patent No. 1,020,089, issued March 12, 1912. However, where desired, it is not necessary to modify the basic machine but instead the present invention may be produced by bringing together many conventional elements of a basic sewing machine mechanism and incorporating the various features of the present invention therein.

The sewing machine of Gray Patent No. 1,020,089 has been modified in the following respects since the Gray machine could not effectively feed carpeting:

(1) The presser foot has been replaced with a vertically displaceable top rotary feeding mechanism which includes flexible drive means.

(2) A binding guide has been provided which also includes finger means to push the pile of the carpet away in advance of the sewing operation.

(3) The feed dog may be eliminated inasmuch as the present machine relies entirely upon the top rotary feeding mechanism.

With the foregoing construction in mind, it is evident that the present invention achieves features of simplicity and economy which have been heretofore unrealized.

The present sewing machine additionally is readily adapted to sew binding to varying thicknesses of carpet and is also capable of being used to sew binding to a carpet having a foamed backing, which heretofore was badly damaged by sewing machines of the prior art.

Another object of the present invention is to achieve the substantially continuous sewing of binding to irregular shapes of carpeting, such as, ovals, inside cuts, corners, scalloped and other irregular configurations which are employed in connection with mats, area rugs and other similar type constructions.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide 3,221,685 Patented Dec. 7, 1965 a carpet binding sewing machine which can attach fringe to a carpet or other body.

The foregoing as well as other objects of the invention are achieved by providing a carpet binding machine which basically comprises a needle-bar actuating shafts that actuates both a sewing needle and a flexible drive assembly adapted to rotate a vertically displaceable feeding roller intermittently with a guide being provided which not only folds the binding and lead it into an appropriate position with respect to the raw edge of a carpet, but which also includes means to push the carpet away in advance of the sew-ing operation.

Other objects and many of the attendant advantages of the present invention will become readily appreciated as the same becomes better understood by reference to the following detailed description when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a front elevational view of the carpet binding machine of the present invention taken from one side thereof with certain parts being shown in phantom for the sake of clarity;

FIG. 2 is a view similar to FIG. 1 but taken from the opposite side of the carpet binding machine of the preent invention;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged sectional view taken along the lines 33 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged sectional view taken along the lines 44 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged sectional view taken along the lines 55 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is a sectional view taken along the lines 6-6 of FIG. 5 with certain parts omitted for the sake of clarity;

FIG. 7 is a sectional view taken along the lines 77 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 8 is a View taken along the lines 8--8 of FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is a sectional view taken along the lines 99 of FIG. 8;

FIG. 10 is an enlarged sectional view taken along the lines 1010 of FIG. 8;

FIG. 11 is a sectional view taken along the lines 1111 of FIG. 10;

FIG. 12 is an enlarged sectional view taken along the lines 12-12 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 13 is a sectional view taken along the lines 13--13 of FIG. 12;

FIGS. 14, 15 and 16 are views showing the steps employed in sewing a binding strip to the raw edge of a carpet in accordance with techniques heretofore used;

FIG. 17 is a View showing a binding strip sewn to the raw edge of carpet utilizing the carpet binding machine of the present invention;

FIG. 18 is a fragmentary perspective view showing both sides of a carpet with an edge having binding sewn thereto with the carpet binding machine of the present invention; and,

FIG. 19 is a fragmentary view of a detail of the present invention wherein carpet having a foam backing is having binding sewn to an edge thereof with the carpet binding machine of the present invention.

Referring now to the various figures of the drawings, a carpet binding machine embodying the present invention is generally shown at 10 in FIGS. 1 and 2. As previously discussed the carpet binding machine of the present invention constitutes a modification of substantial portions of a zig-zag sewing machine manufactured by the Singer Sewing Machine Company and identified as Model No. 107W3. The basic machine is disclosed in Gray Patent No. 1,020,089, issued March 12, 1912. However, where desired, it is not necessary to modify the basic machine but instead the present invention may be produced by bringing together many conventional elements of a basic sewing machine mechanism and incorporating the various features of the present invention therein as will be discussed hereinafter.

The sewing machine of Gray Patent No. 1,020,089 has been modified in the following respects:

(1) The presser foot has been replaced with a vertieally displaceable top rotary feeding mecchanism which includes flexible drive means.

(2) A binding guide has been provided which also includes means to push the pile of the carpet away in advance of the sewing operation.

(3) The feed dog may be eliminated inasmuch as the present sewing machine relies entirely upon the top rotary feeding mechanism.

The foregoing concepts of the invention are shown in the appended drawings along with certain structure of the original sewing machine of Patent No. 1,020,089 to aid in an understanding of the invention. However, it is to be understood that the basic driving and sewing mechanism and other features of the sewing machine of Patent No. 1,020,089 are retained and the disclosure of said Patent No. 1,020,089 is expressly incorporated herein by reference to the extent that said structure of the sewing machine of Patent No. 1,020,089 is utilized in the present invention.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the carpet binding machine constituting the present invention basically includes a sewing machine bed plate 12, an overhanging arm 14, an arm standard 16, a needle-bar actuating shaft 20 and a needle bar 22 from which sewing needle 24 depends in order to achieve the normal sewing action. The top rotary feeding mechanism shaft 26 is located in the path of stitching, closely adjacent and downstream of the needle bar 22 as illustrated in FIG. 5. It is to be noted that the shaft 26 Was a part of the presser bar mechanism in the sewing machine of Patent No. 1,020,089.

As further shown in FIG. 1, a needle-bar actuating shaft 28 is provided which has the further function of intermittently rotating the feeding roller 30 through the vertically displaceable flexible drive assembly 32 in a manner as will be hereinafter discussed.

The Carpet binding machine of the present invention further includes a strip reversing guide means 34 for folding and leading binding 36 into the proper position prior to the sewing operation, which guide also includes finger means to push the pile of the carpet away in advance of the sewing operation.

It should therefore be apparent that the carpet binding machine of the present invention basically comprises needle-bar actuating shaft 28 that actuates both the sewing needle 24 and the flexible drive assembly 32 to rotate vertically displaceable feeding roller 30 intermittently and the guide 34 which has the further function of fold ing and leading the binding and including means to push the pile of the carpet away in advance of the sewing operation.

The flexible drive assembly 32 is shown as a unit in FIGS. 2 and 8 and details thereof are also shown in FIGS. 1, 5, 7 and 9 to 13.

As shown in FIG. 8, the flexible drive assembly 32 basically comprises a rocking arm 38 which is operatively connected to a clutch mechanism 40 that converts the rocking action of the arm 38 into intermittent unidirectional rotation of the flexible coupling 42 which in turn causes intermittent uni-directional rotation of the feeding roller 30 when the sewing needle is lifted above the carpet.

As illustrated in FIG. 12, the upper end of the rocking arm 38 is secured through appropriate threads and a tightening nut 44 to a collar 46. The collar 46 extends from a ring 48 which is positioned in a circumferential groove of an eccentric 50 that is telescoped about and secured to the needle-bar actuating shaft 28. The securement of the eccentric 50 to the shaft 28 is achieved by means of bolts 52 and an end plate with an appropriate opening to permit the passage of the shaft 28 is also secured to the eccentric by means of bolt 56.

In view of the foregoing structure it is evident that when the shaft 28 is rotated in a given direction that the arm 38 will periodically rise and fall as indicated by the arrow 58 of FIGS. 8 and 12.

Referring now to FIGS. 7 and 8, it is to be noted that the lower end of the rocking arm 38 is secured by threads and tightening nut 60 to a T-shaped lug 62 which has a generally central opening to permit the passage of the stem of a bolt 64 in order to operatively connect the rocking arm 38 to an elongated finger 66 which extends from the rocking plate 68 of the clutch mechanism 40. The finger 66 includes an elongated slot 70 for purposes of adjustability with a nut 72 being provided in order to hold a given adjustment of the lower end of the rocking arm 38.

The clutch mechanism 40 is illustrated in FIGS. 7 to 11 and includes for supporting purposes a rear bar 74 which is secured to the sewing bed-plate 12. Also provided for purposes of support is a base member 76 which is secured to the bed-plate 12 by means of bolt 78.

The other elements comprising the clutch mechanism 40 are the rocking plate 68, the sleeve 80 which is adapted to be intermittently rotated in but one direction, front movable clutch plate 82 and rear fixed clutch plate 84.

As illustrated in FIG. 10, the rocking plate 68 is ecured to the front clutch plate by means of bolts 86. Thus, the front clutch plate 82 will be rocked back and forth in essentially the same manner as the rocking plate 68.

However, it is the function of the front movable clutch plate 82 to convert the rocking action of the rocking plate 68 into intermittent uni-directional rotation of the sleeve 80 and its forward annular finger 88.

The aforesaid conversion of rocking motion to unidirectional rotation is accomplished by the rockable plate 82 which includes slots that are defined in part by inclined edges 92. These edges 92 are important to the operation of the clutch plate 82 by virtue of their interaction with rollers 94 that are floatingly positioned in the slots 90 with small coil springs 96 being provided for cushioning purposes. It is the rollers 94 which form the operative connection between the rockable front clutch plate 82 and the sleeve 80 which is to be rotated intermittently in but one direction.

When the rocking plate 68 is rocked in a given direction, for instance in the clockwise sense as viewed in FIG. 9, the rollers 94 will become wedged in place by virtue of the inclined edges 92 and thus will be rotated along with the front clutch plate 82. Hence, the sleeve 80 will be rotated in a clockwise direction.

However, when the rocking plate 68 reverses and begins to rock in a counterclockwise direction as viewed in FIG. 9, with the clutch plate 82 also then being rotated in a counterclockwise direction, the rollers 94 will have a tendency to move in a counterclockwise direction along with the front clutch plate 82. However, this is prevented by the rear clutch plate 84 which is rendered immovable as it is secured to rear wall 74 by bolts 98. The rear clutch plate 84 is constructed along the lines of the front clutch plate 82 and includes slots 100 with inclined edges 102 which are essentially of substantially identical construction to the slots 90 with inclined edges 92. Rollers 104 and coil springs 106 are provided in each of the slots 100.

As previously discussed, the rollers 94 have a tendency to rock back and forth along with the clutch plate 82. In one direction of rotation of the clutch plate 82 the rollers 94 are carried along with it. However, when the clutch plate 82 is rocked in a counterclockwise direction as viewed in FIG. 9 the clutch plate 84 prevents the rollers 94 from being carried in a clockwise direction along with the clutch plate 82. This occurs b cause the rollers 104 of the rear clutch plate 84 are also in contact with the sleeve 80 as shown in FIG. 10. Because of the inclined edges 102 of the slots 100 of the rear clutch plate 84, the sleeve 80 will be permitted to rotate only in a clockwise sense as viewed in FIGS. 9 and 11 and will not rotate in the counterclockwise sense.

In view of the foregoing, the front movable clutch plate 82 may be characterized as a driving member and the rear clutch plate 84 may be characterized as a unidirectional brake member. Of course, other one-way arrangements known to the art, such as a pawl and ratchet wheel assembly, may be utilized.

As the forward annular finger 88 is integral with the sleeve 80 it is also intermittently rotated in but one direction. In this connection it is to be noted that an immovable stud 108 with a head 110 is positioned within the bore of the finger 88 with the stud 108 being fixedly held by means of bolt 112 being secured in a slot formed in the stem of the stud 108.

The intermittent uni-directional rotation of the finger 88 is carried forward by means of flexible coupling 42 which is essentially composed of an annular link 114 and a bar 116 which exert a universal action.

The annular link 114 is essentially a hollow cylinder with a central bore 118 which receives the forward portion of the annular finger 88. The annular link 114 is secured to the finger 88 for intermittent uni-directional rotation therewith by means of set screws 120.

The forward portion of the annular link 114 includes slots 122 in order to receive ears 124 of a rear universal sphere 126 which is an integral part of the bar 116.

The bar 116 also includes a forward universal sphere 128 which includes ears 130 that are secured in comple' mentary slots in flexible coupling member 132.

It is thus seen that the rocking motion of the elongated finger 66 is converted to intermittent uni-directional rotation of the coupling member 132 which is operatively connected with a shaft 134 which causes rotation of the feeding roller 30. As shown in FIG. 8, the feeding roller 30 is secured to shaft 134 via set screw 135.

The roller 30 and its associated shaft 134 are rotatively mounted in a bracket 136 which is floatingly mounted by virtue of being secured to the top rotary feeding mechanism shaft 26 that was previously utilized as the presser bar.

As shown in FIG. 8, the bracket 136 is secured to the shaft 26 by means of angle piece 138 which receives depending finger 140 of the shaft 26 by means of bolts 142. As further shown in FIG. 8, a lift lever 144, which was a part of the original machine, is utilized to raise and lower the bracket 136. Also retained is the biasing mechanism with which the lever 144 was associated.

The foregoing mechanism is illustrated and described in Gray Patent No. 1,020,089 and enables the feed roller to be raised in order to insert work in the sewing area with the feed roller then being lowered by a simple release of the lift lever 144. As the pile fabric is intermittently moved by virtue of the intermittent uni-directional rotation of the roller 30, the roller 30 may be vertically displaced slightly by virtue of the spring mounting of the bracket 136.. However, the rotation of the roller 30 is in no way affected because of the flexibility of drive assembly 32. The foregoing construction also permits the sewing machine of the present invention to sew binding to carpets having a wide range of thickness and texture.

As illustrated in FIG. 3, pile finger 162 extends genthe present invention in order to fold the binding 36 and guide it into proper position with respect to the edge 146 of the carpet 148. The guide 34 also includes means to push the pile of the carpet in advance of the sewing operation.

Carpet bound by the present invention is illustrated in FIG. 17 and it is to be noted that the binding 36 has been generally folded longitudinally and secured to 6 the raw edge carpet 148 by means of stitching 150. As illustrated in FIG. 18, the binding 36 has been folded so as to comprise an upper fold or leg 152 and a lower fold or leg 154, and the binding is open toward the carpet raw edge.

These folds are achieved by the guide 34 as best shown in FIGS. 3, 4 and 6.

As illustrated in FIG. 3, the guide 34 includes a tubular section 156 which merges into a folding section 158, and the guide 34 also includes binding finger 160 and pile finger or finger means 162. The guide 34 is secured to the bed-plate 12 by being coupled to angle plate 164 having associated slots 166 to receive bolts 168 for purposes of adjustment. The guide 34 also includes a window 170 for purposes of observation of the binding 36.

As illustrated in FIG. 3, pile finger 162 extends generally norm-ally across the path of stitching. It is positioned closely adjacent to and upstream of the sewing needle 24 with the pile finger 162 positioned in close proximity to the guide and curving gracefully adjacent the delivery end of the guide in an arc across the path of stitching towards a direction parallel to the path of stitching so as to skirt the sewing needle 24. It is the purpose of the pile finger 162, as shown in FIG. 4, to push the edge of the carpet 148 away in advance of the sewing needle 24 so as to avoid any interference with the sewing operation.

The binding finger 160 is shorter than the pile finger 162 and makes an abrupt turn as viewed in FIG. 3. This finger defines inner limit of the binding 36 and aids in the folding and placing operation.

The binding 36 is actually folded by the graceful curvature of upper folding member 172 and lower folding member 174 as viewed in FIG. 6. As shown in FIG. 6, the upper member 172 has a free edge which is slightly set in or is inwardly offset from the lower member 174. This is done in order to accommodate the normal tendency of the moving upper fold 152 issuing from the guide means or of the moving carpet 148 to force the upper fold 152 outwardly. The net result of the set in is to achieve essentially equal folds or legs 152 and 154.

As illustrated in FIG. 19, a carpet having a foam backing 176 may have binding sewn to an edge thereof through the use of the sewing machine of the present invention inasmuch as binding can be sewn with the present sewing machine in a single step where the carpet is fed by a top feeding mechanism. This is an added advantage of the top feeding construction of the present invention, since the feed dog of conventional machines quickly damages a foam backing.

While the zigzag stitch of FIG. 18 is theoretically visible, as a practical matter the sewing thread employed is a Nylon thread which is transparent or clear and for this reason it is not readily visible since it blends into the binding.

The technique heretofore used in sewing binding to an edge of a carpet is illustrated in FIGS. 14, 15 and 16.

The first step of the old technique is illustrated in FIG. 14 and it involves a bevelling or cutting away of an edge of the pile or tufting 180 by means of knife 182 so that the pile will not interfere with the sewing operation.

This step is entirely avoided by the sewing machine of the present invention which employs pile finger 162 as part of the guide in order to hold the pile away from the sewing area.

The next step in the old process involved the sewing of one edge 186 of a much wider (1%") binding 184 to the edge of the carpet. This step is performed with the pile up as viewed in FIG. 15 and is done with a first type of sewing machine which forms the stitch 188.

The binding 184 under the old technique is then folded about itself in the direction of arrow 190 so that the other edge 192 of the binding 184 is brought beneath the 7 carpet backing 194. The edge 192 is then stitched to the backing 194 with the formation of stitches 196 by means of a second type of sewing machine with the second operation being performed with the pile down.

It is thus seen that the sewing machine of the present invention will sew binding to a carpet in a single step operation and will employ a much narrower binding in so doing. In particular, the old techniques utilized a binding having a width of an inch and a quarter whereas with the present invention it is possible to ue a binding with a width of three quarters of an inch.

With the present invention it is also possible to readily sew binding to irregular shapes of carpeting, such as ovals, inside cuts, corners, scalloped and other irregular configuration which are employed in connection with mats, area rugs and other similar type constructions. It is also possible with the present invention to sew fringe to rugs, mats and area rugs of varying shapes.

As previously pointed out, many of the basic features of the sewing machine of Gray Patent No. 1,020,089 are retained in the present invention. This includes particularly the features shown in FIG. 3 of the Gray patent.

Also, because the top rotary feeding mechanism of the present invention is substituted for the presser foot, the top rotary feeding mechanism will be actuated when the sewing needle is raised above the carpet in order that the feeding may proceed elficiently without interference wtih the sewing operation. In other words, the carpet will be intermittently fed only when the sewing needle is out of contact with the carpeting.

In operation the binding 36 is threaded into the guide 34 and is urged through the guide with access therein being permitted by window 156. In so doing the binding 36 will be gradually folded as illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 6 by passing within the curved passageway of the guide and is then led onto the goods in the folded condition as illustrated in FIG. 3.

The feed roller 30 is then raised by virtue of a manipulation of the lever 144. The carpet is placed under the roller 30 in proper position with respect to the binding, and the lever 144 is re-engaged.

The carpet binding machine 10 is turned on and the actuating shaft 28 is thereby rotated about its own axis. This initiates the sewing action of the needle 24 and also causes the arm 38 to rock by virtue of its association with the eccentric 50.

The rocking of the arm 38 is converted to intermittent uni-directional rotation of the plate 68 by virtue of the combination of clutch plates 82 and 84. Intermittent unidirectional rotation of the plate 68 is conveyed forwardly by the flexible drive assembly 32 so that the feeding roller 30 is intermittently rotated in but one direction.

Furthermore, the intermittent rotation of the feeding roller 30 occurs only when the sewing needle 24 is raised above the goods by virtue of the timing which was previously used in the original machine to actuate the presser foot when the sewing needle was lifted away from the goods.

It is to be noted that the flexible drive assembly 32 permits the raising and the lowering of the roller 30 not only for purposes of manipulating the lever 144 but also absorbs the normal vibrations encountered in sewing a relatively thick and resilient member such as a carpet. The foregoing assembly also permits the present invention to be usable in connection with a wide range of carpet thicknesses and textures.

While the present invention has been illustrated in connection with the sewing of a zig-Zag stitch, it follows that other types of stitches commonly employed in connection with the sewing of carpeting are utilizible in connection with the present invention. Also, other sewing machines may be adapted to include the novel means of the present invention.

As illustrated in FIGS. 3, 17 and 18, the carpet binding is sewn to the carpeting in but a single step with the finger 162 of the guide 34 holding the pile away from the sewing area as illustrated in FIG. 3.

Obviously many modifications and variations of the present invention are possible in the light of the above teachings. It is, therefore, to be understood that within the scope of the appended claims, the invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically described.

What is claimed as the invention is:

1. In a one-step carpet binding machine for sewing a strip of binding to the top and bottom faces of carpet along a raw edge thereof, said carpet being comprised of pile, said machine including a needle-bar actuating shaft adapted to sequentially actuate a sewing needle to form a path of stitching in said binding and in said carpet, the improvement comprising driving means to actuate top rotary feeding means to pull said carpet intermittently in a given direction past said sewing needle, strip reversing guide means to deliver said binding in a longitudinally folded condition to said raw edge in advance of said sewing needle, said guide means having an entrance end and a delivery end, said delivery end including upper and lower members, said upper member having a free edge inwardly offset from said lower member, said guide means being adapted to issue binding from said upper and lower members in a generally U-shaped folded condition, the binding as issued being comprised of upper and lower legs and open toward said carpet raw edge with said lower leg extending further than said upper leg because of the upper and lower members of said guide means, finger means temporarily pushing the upper edge of said pile away in advance of the sewing needle to avoid any interference with the operation thereof, said finger means being positioned upstream of and closely adjacent to said sewing needle, said finger means also being positioned in close proximity to said guide means adjacent to the delivery end thereof, said finger means extending generally normal to said path of stitching and being curved adjacent said delivery end in an arc across said path toward a direction parallel to said path of stitching, said top rotary feeding means being positioned in said path of stitching, downstream of and closely adjacent to said sewing needle, whereby said binding is sewn to the top and bottom faces of said carpet in a one-step operation.

2. The invention of claim 1 wherein said driving means includes an arm which is adapted to'be rocked through eccentric connection to said needle-bar shaft, said arm being connected to clutch means to uni-directionally and intermittently actuated flexible drive means to operate said top rotary feeding means.

3. The invention of claim 2 wherein said clutch means includes a movable clutch plate and a fixed clutch plate spaced therefrom, each of said clutch plates including inclined slots and rollers in engagement therewith whereby the rocking of said arm in a first direction will be transmitted through said movable plate and the interaction of said rollers and slots to an element of said flexible drive means, and whereby when said arm is rocked in a second direction, said fixed plate will restrain movement of said movable plate.

4. The invention of claim 3 wherein said top rotary feeding means is resiliently biased and vertically displaceable.

5. The invention of claim 4 including lever means to hold said top rotary feeding means in a raised position.

6. The invention of claim 1 wherein said top rotary feeding means are rotated sequentially when said sewing needle is raised away from said carpet.

7. The invention of claim 1 wherein said guide means are positioned downstream of and closely adjacent to said needle.

8. The invention of claim 1 wherein said machine forms a zig-zag stitch.

(References on following page) References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS Foster 112-147 Allen 1127 Woodhead 112-137 X Grim 112235 Sailer 112-137 Irwin 112402 Seaman 1l2419 Seaman 112-419 Ackerman 112-138 Hartwell 1127 Hayes l12--214 Condran 112- 214 Greco 112137 FRANK I. COHEN, Primary Examiner.

ROBERT V. SLOAN, Examiner. 

1. IN A ONE-STEP CARPET BUILDING MACHINE FOR SEWING A STRIP OF BINDING TO THE TOP AND BOTTOM FACES OF CARPET ALONG A RAW EDGE THEREOF, SAID CARPET BEING COMPRISED OF PILE, SAID MACHINE INCLUDING A NEEDLE-BAR ACTUATING SHAFT ADAPTED TO SEQUENTIALLY ACTUATE A SEWING NEEDLE TO FORM A PATH OF STITCHING IN SAID BINDING AND IN SAID CARPET, THE IMPROVEMENT COMPRISING DRIVING MEANS TO ACTUATE TOP ROTARY FEEDING MEANS TO PULL SAID CARPET INTERMITTENTLY IN A DIRECTION PAST SAID SEWING NEEDLE, STRIP REVERSING GUIDE MEANS TO DELIVER SAID BINDING IN A LONGITUDINALLY FOLDED CONDITION TO SAID RAW EDGE IN ADVANCE OF SAID SEWING NEEDLE, SAID GUIDE MEANS HAVING AN ENTRANCE END AND A DELIVERY END, SAID DELIVERY END INCLUDING UPPER AND LOWER MEMBERS, SAID UPPER MEMBER HAVING A FREE EDGE INWARDLY OFFSET FROM SAID LOWER MEMBER, SAID GUIDE MEANS BEING ADAPTED TO ISSUE BINDING FROM SAID UPPER AND LOWER MEMBERS IN A GENERALLY U-SHAPED FOLDED CONDITION, THE BINDING AS ISSUED BEING COMPRISED OF UPPER AND LOWER LEGS AND OPEN TOWARD SAID CARPET RAW EDGE WITH SAID LOWER LEG EXTENDING FURTHER THAN SAID UPPER LEG BECAUSE OF THE UPPER AND LOWER MEMBERS OF SAID GUIDE MEANS, FINGER MEANS TEMPORARILY PUSHING THE UPPER EDGE OF SAID PILE AWAY IN ADVANCE OF THE SEWING NEEDLE TO AVOID ANY INTERFERENCE WITH THE OPERATION THEREOF, SAID FINGER MEANS BEING POSITIONED UPSTREAM OF AND CLOSELY ADJACENT TO SAID SEWING NEEDLE, SAID FINGER MEANS ALSO BEING POSITIONED IN CLOSE PROXIMITY TO SAID GUIDE MEANS ADJACENT TO THE DELIVERY END THEREOF, SAID FINGER MEANS EXTENDING GENERALLY NORMAL TO SAID PATH OF STITCHING AND BEING CURVED ADJACENT SAID DELIVERY END IN AN ARC ACROSS SAID PATH TOWARD A DIRECTION PARALLEL TO SAID PATH OF STITCHING, SAID TOP ROTARY FEEDING MEANS BEING POSITIONED IN SAID PATH OF STITCHING, DOWNSTREAM OF AND CLOSELY ADJACENT TO SAID SEWING NEEDLE, WHEREBY SAID BINDING IS SEWN TO THE TOP AND BOTTOM FACES OF SAID CARPET IN A ONE-STEP OPERATION. 